In times past, Kreševo, a town in the Central Bosnia Zupanija, has been known for its skilled blacksmiths who have in time turned this craft into an art. Once numerous mines were located here where miners dug for mercury and iron. Today this sweet place nurtures the different traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. One of these traditions for which this area is still known for is “shoeing” eggs. This tradition is several hundred years old and lives in Kreševo, the only town in Bosnia and outside of it, where this tradition is still nurtured.

The egg has always been a symbol of new life, and the horseshoe a symbol of happiness. In almost every yard in Kreševo is a tree on which are hung “shoed” eggs of different colors.

A horseshoe from lead pipes

A team from Anadolija press agency visited a small "Blacksmith" Stjepan Biletić in Kreševo. He is one of the few who are still engaged in this trade. This retired enlightener hammers away in his small workshop where, as he says, his grandson helps.

Today in Kreševo only six people shoe eggs. They all know each other and shoe eggs in a similar fashion, although each of them has a specific way working, from removing the contents and drilling, to feeding and tightening nails. Stjepan began his work on shoeing eggs in the 1980s.

"It all started out of curiosity. My younger colleague Franjo shoed eggs. Otherwise I am interested in everything related to the trade, regardless of the fact that I am not in that field," says Stjepan. As he says, he asked a colleague to show him how to do it, and which tools were needed. He showed Stjepan and he started with this trade.

"The first horseshoe was fashioned from lead pipes, it is very hard work because we have to draw, measure and to bend it, and to drill holes, then I did not have anywhere near the tools that I have today," said Stjepan.

Coats of arms on eggs

He the asked another friend to make his first mold which would will help in making horseshoes. This made Stjepan’s work easier. Over time, he found other ways to simplify work for himself.

"Afterwards, I shoed only for the purpose of giving shoed egg to my friends. Somehow to me this is the most beautiful gift, long lasting" says Stjepan. When he perfected his craft, he realized he could sell shoed eggs. He was then able to improve his financial situation despite the fact that he was retired. Eggs are shoed with horseshoes and other decorations are added like coats of arms of towns, clubs and political parties...

"In general, the horseshoe is on one side of the egg. In time, I began to add some motives, on the other side. These are the motives featuring football clubs, coats of arms of towns and political parties.." says Stjepan. The process of shoeing an egg, among other things, depends on the hardness of the shell, but it usually takes about an hour. Stjepan points out that eggs often crack during shoeing. As in many places in Bosnia and Hezegovina and Kreševo there is a legend in connection with shoeing eggs.

"I think that the legend might be true since we know that blacksmiths from Kreševo were extremely good. They traded with the people of Dubrovnik," said Stjepan.

Without a shoed egg, no marriage

The legend says that no blacksmith in Kreševo could marry if he did not know to shoe an egg. After the apprentice shoed an egg, he would put it in the window pane, and that if the girls, who were ready to marry, passed by the house and saw the egg in the window pane, that it would be a sign that he "mastered his trade" and was is capable of family life.

Stjepan says that these days he shoes eggs with the song because early on it was much harder to do. Even though the situation in Kreševo today is that only a few blacksmiths remain who are intensively performing blacksmith's work. Stjepan states that a few of them, who shoe eggs, are working to pass this craft to the younger generations.

"I have been trying something with my grandson who is in the second grade. Few are interested in it. It helps me, and I let him do something. I am confident that he could continue this craft," said Stjepan. As he says this is a nice craft although it requires a lot of patience, a man must be poised, and hands must be peaceful. He laughs and says that he will continue to shoe as long as his hands help.

Because Easter is a holiday of gift giving, Stjepan says he will give shoed eggs to family members and relatives, and people who live abroad buy them to show that they celebrate Bosnia and Herzegovina and take them as gifts to the countries in which they now live.

Formatted for CROWN byMarko PuljićDistributed by www.Croatia.org This message is intended for Croatian Associations / Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions / articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Or simply...enjoy and spread the word and good vibrations.